Basic Human Needs

The Gospel and our social teaching require special concern and attention toward people who are struggling to lift themselves out of poverty. Every day, our neighbors show courage, resourcefulness and determination to fulfill the potential of their lives, often against great odds.

While some are economically able to thrive in our state’s economy, many others remain challenged. Many individuals and families are being left behind because they lack education and job skills. Despite their hard work in agriculture, restaurants, healthcare and other sectors, the working poor and middle class are often unable to support their families and obtain adequate housing.

We must ensure that those trying to lift themselves out of poverty are not forgotten. It is the obligation of New York State to ensure appropriate supports, and the strains upon the safety net and its community providers require renewed commitment in the budgeting process.

One area to assist the low-wage worker is to offer a better hourly wage. This can be attained through a higher minimum wage and an across-the-board COLA. More

Over the past number of years, a significant rise has occurred in the number of people turning to emergency food programs and pantries. Many are members of working families who use these pantries to supplement their paychecks and feed their families. A need for increased funding exists to ensure that the emergency food pantries can provide needed assistance. More

One out of every seven homeless people in the United States lives in New York. Statewide there are roughly 67,000 men, women and children who are staying in shelters at any given time. In New York City alone, more than 59,000 people, including 24,000 children sleep in a homeless shelter each night. An additional 7,000 people stay in a shelter outside New York City. Thousands of others sleep on the streets or in abandoned buildings and makeshift campsites while thousands more exit foster care, hospitals and other institutions each year without a home.

Homelessness in New York has nearly doubled in the last decade. New York State must end this crisis and invest in the most cost-effective strategy proven to solve homelessness for those with the greatest needs – supportive housing, which pairs affordable housing with on-site supportive services. More

Working individuals and families face significant barriers in accessing affordable and reliable transportation in many parts of the state. This problem is particularly acute in rural areas and at non-peak hours. There is a need to invest in innovative solutions to overcome this significant barrier. More

Providers of affordable and supportive housing programs have met resistance to the siting of these programs for people with special needs, whether they are homeless, mentally ill, chemically dependent, low income individuals and families, seniors or persons with chronic HIV. The New York State Division of Housing has begun an educational campaign that emphasizes what good neighbors supportive housing residents can be. More needs to be done to encourage acceptance of these much needed programs.